Electric time switch



April 9', 1929. G. H. HART J 1,708,619

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH l Filerd March 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l pril 9, 1929., Q H HART 1,708,619

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH Filed March 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y mined times. present disclosure is by way of illustration Patented Apr. 8, i929.

GERGE -EEGEMAN HART, OF W'ESTv HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

nitnc'rnrc miam swircn.

.application lec llarch 4, 1927. Serial No. 172,661.`

vThis invention relates to apparatus for controlling an electric circuit or circuits, and has ais its aim to provide a device or apparatus of this sort having various features of novelty and advantage.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved timing mechanism by which a current or currents may be automatically thrown on and off at predetermined times, this timing mechanism being lvery simple and compact in construction, economic in manufacture, and effective in operation.

A further object is to provide a timing mechanism of this sort which is extremely simple in it'smanipulation or setting, so that an unskilled person, such, for instance, as a housewife, may expeditiously set the same with nicety and without becoming confused by making unnecessary calculations.

- Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified i'n the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

As an instance of a use. to which the improvements of the present invention may be applied, reference may be had to an electric cooking range wherein it is desirable to autoniaticallyl throw the current onto and of of the heating element or elements at predeter- Itis to be understood that the only, and that my improved timing mechanism may be used otherwise than in combi.

nation with a range.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my improved timing mechanism, the casing therefor being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a view taken vertically and centra lly through the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the knob or handle for setting the device omitted and the dials being Vshown in posiytion at which the timing mechanism ,i`s` inoperative;` v l Fig. 4 is a view of the dial per se;

Fig. 5 is a view of the disk which is adapted to abut against the rear face of the dial; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a spring plate for urging the disk against the dial.

spring 1() for driving the train.

lhe timing mechanism includes suitable driving means, such as a clock'or recorder movement, which is not shown in detail as the particular construction thereof is iinmaterial, it being suflicient to state that it may have a train of gears (not shown) and a In the present instance, this recorder movement is shown as housed within a shell 11 and as having a shaft 12 which is preferably driven in a counterclockwise direction one complete revolution each twenty-four hours or at an other rate depending on the selected markings on the dial to be hereinafter described. Secured to the shell is an insulating plate or base member 15 which carries a pair of contacts 16 and 17 and a terminal 18, the latter being electrically` connected by a spring 19 to a switch plate 20 pivoted as at 21. The switch plate has a contact ortongue 22 which is adapted to engage the contacts 16 and 17. Tiis switch plate also carries a roller 23 which is adapted to engage against the peripheries of the dial A and the disk B. One ofthe contacts, for instance `the contact 17, may be connected up to the opening coil of a magnetic switch (not shown) in such manner that when' the switch plate is in engagement with the contact 1 as shown in Fig. 1, the circuit through the heating element or elements of the range (also not shown) is broken. The other contact 16 may be conneeted to the closing coil of the magnetic switch in such manner that when the switch plate is in .engagement with this contact, a current will flow through the heating element or elements of the range.

The switch plate 2O is controlled in its movements by. a pair-of disks, one comprising the dial A having means for controlling the throwing of the switch into one condition, in the present instance into engagementl with the contact 17. The other disk comprises the generally circular member Bback of, and frictionally. engaging the rear face of, the dial and having means for controlling the throwing of the switch into the other condition, i. e., into engagement with the contact 16. The disk B has a portion 25 of larger radius adapted to engage and hold the switch plate in the'position shown in Fig. 1. The l rear edge 25 of this portion of larger radius is preferably inclined and its position determines the time' at which the switch plate is thrown into engagement with the conta-ct 16., The extent ofthe reduced portion 26 of the disk may be varied to suit requirements, but,

by way of illustration, this portion is shown as being of such extent as to provide a cooking period of, at least. ten hours. The dial A has a portion 27 of larger radius and a reduced portion 28, the latter preferably being at least as great in extent as that of the reduced portion 26. In the present instance, these reduced portions 26 and 28 are of the same radius, but one may be of lesser radius than the other. Adjacent one end of the portion 27 of the dial is a notch 29, in which the roller 23 is engaged when it is desired to render the timing mechanism inoperative as, for instance, when it is desired to cook without employing the timer. The forward edge 27 of the portion 27 is preferably inclined and constitutes a cam, so to speak, for controlling the throwing of the switch plate from engagement with the contact 16 and into engagement with the contact 17. rl`he dial also has a projection 30, the front face of which is abrupt and the rear face of which is inclined. rlhe dial is provided on its front face with suitable numerals chronologically arranged counterclockwise. 1n the present illustrative disclosure, these numerals are employed to indicate in hours the angular movement of the dial.

'lihe dial A. and the disk B are angularly adjustable on the shaft 12 and are adapted to rotate with that shaft when the clock mechanism rotates the latter in a counterclockwise direction. ln the present instance, the dial is connected by means of rivets 35 to a flange 36 of a sleeve 37 journalled on the shaft 12 and connected thereto by means of. a friction clutch. This clutch may include the flange 36 and a ring 38 normally urged against the ange by a coiled spring 39. lf desired, there may be interposed between the flange 36 and the ring 38 a lining 40. Between theflange 36 and the dial A is a Spacing washer 41 which forms a bearing for the' disk B. rlhe numeral 42jdesignates a spring plate interposed between the flange 36 and the spacing washer 41 and having, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5, spring fingers 43 adapted to engage against the disk B and rictionally urge the same into engagemen with the rear face of the dial.

The dial ,A is angularly adjusted ,relative to a fixed pointer 45 so as to set the mechanism to throw the switch plate, at a predeter-r mined time, into one position. in the present instance, into engagement with lthe Contact 17; and the disk B is angularly adjusted relative to the dial 'so as to set the mechanism to throw the switch at a predetermined time in the other position by turning a single handle or knob 46. rlhis handle or knob is freely journalled on the sleeve 37 and is normally urged against a glass plate 47 by a spring 48, the outer end of which abuts against a washer 49 secured on the outer end of the shaft by a Yscrew 50. rl`he handle is connected to the disk B by a pin 51 secured to this disk and extending into a recess in the handle, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. The pin extends through an arcuate slot 52 in the dial. The numeral 53 designates an indicator connected to the disk B so as to be adjusted therewith and thereby indicate the setting of the disk relative to the dial. rlhis indicator is positioned between the dial and the glass plate 47; it is journalled on the sleeve 37, and is connected to the disk by the pin 51. In the present illustrative disclosure, the arrangement is such that the switch plate may be held by the spring 19 in engagement with the contact 16, for la maximum period of ten hours, but it is, of course, understood that any maximum period may be adopted. A maximum period of ten hours having been assumed, the length of the slot 52 in the dial is such that the disk B may be adjusted relative to the dial a maximum angular distance which is indicated by ten hours on the dial.

lllhe operation of the mechanism is briefly as follows: Assumingthat it is twelve oclock noon,` and a housewife wishes to cook a dish for two hours and serve the same at six oclock, she would calculate that a period of six hours is to elapse between the time of setting and the end of the cooking period. and she would, therefore, turn the handle 46 clockwise until the numeral six of the dial registered with the'pointer 45, as shown in Fig. 1. lt will be seen that when the handle is turned clockwise. the dial A and the disk B are rotated Aclockwise through the connection formed by the pin 51, the latter being in engagement with the rear edge of the slot 52. After the dial has thus been set, the handle is rotated counterclockwise (without moving the dial) until the indicator 53 is in registry with the numeral two of the (dial, that is, to the'position shownjn Fig. 1. rlhe apparatus having` been set as described, the train of gears Yof the clock will rotate the shaft 12 and the parts mounted thereon counterclockwise. When four hours have elapsed,

that is, at four 'oclock p. m., the rear edge 25' on' the disk will permit the roller to ride ofi1 ofthe portion of larger radiusi25, whereupon the spring 19 will throw the switch plate so that the tongue 22 engages the contact 16. For the next two hours. that is, between four and six oclock, which is the assumed desired cooking period, the switch will remain in the position in which it has been thrown. l/Vhen .six hours have elapsed, the forward edge y27 on the dial will cam the switch plate to theposition shown in Fig. 1, thus breaking the circuit through the heating element of the range where the device is yused in such combination. At this time, the

projection or stop 30 comes into engagement w1th the pointer 45 so as to prevent further rotatlon of the dial and thus the-dial is held in a position where the portion 27 of the dial maintains the switch plate in the position Fig. n

this notch. the dial is held against'rotation.`

shown in Fig. 1.

It may be desirable to use the range without employing the automatic time control, '1n which event, it is necessary to hold the switch plate in a position at which current flows through the heating element. To this end, the dial has a notch 29 in which'the roller 23 is adapted to engage, as shown in 3. lVhen the roller is thus engaged in That portion of the dial which is adjacent the pointer 45 when the roller is in the notch 29 may be appropriately marked, as, for instance, cooking without timer, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The rear edge of the projection 30 is inclined so that, when the handle is rotated clockwise, this stop may ride beneath the pointer 45.

it will be observed, from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that my improved arrangement'is eiztremely simple in construction and manipulation. The apparatus may be very simply set by one who isnot at all mechanically inclined or who does not in any way understand the structure or functioning of the device. The disk B is behind, and concealed in large part by, the dial. The entire face of the dial is uncovered so that it can 'oe observed. The indicator, which is in front of the dial, does not interfere with the read-- ings thereof and accurately indicates theedjusted position of the disk. in setting the l timer, there are only two movements necessary, namely, that of setting the dial so as to indicate the lapse of time between the setting and the end of the cooking period, and then setting the indicator in accordance with the desired cooking period, and both of these settings may easilu be had by turning the single handle 46 and without mental calculations As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

it is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope ofthe invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a time switch, driving means, a d

switch, a dial rotated by said driving means and angularly adjustable 'relative thereto, said dial havmg means for controlling the Y tive to said dial and movable throwing of said switch into one condition at any predetermined time, an indicator rotatedin unison with said dial by said driving means, said indicator being angularly adjustable with respect to said dial, means movable with said indicator for 'controlling the throwing of the switch into another condition at any predetermined time, a fixed pointer cooperating with said dial, and a single handle for adjusting said indicator and dial.

2. In a time switch, driving means, a switch, a dial rotated by and adjustable relative to said driving means and having means for controlling theY throwing of said switch into one condition at any predetermined time, said dial having numerals thereon chronologically arranged in a direction reverse to that in which said driving means rotates said dial, an indicator angularly adjustable relain unison therewith when theV same is rotated by'said driving means, said indicator having fixed thereto means for controlling the throwing of said switch into another condition at any predetermined time, a pointer cooperating with the 91 numerals on said dial, and a rotatable handle for adjust-ing said indicator and dial.

in a time switch, a switch, driving means, a dial rotated thereby and angularly adjustable relative thereto, said dial having 95 means for controlling the throwing of .said switch into one condition at any predetermined time, an indicator rotated in unison with said dial by said driving means and angularly adjustable relative to said dial, an 10" element movable with said indicator for controlling the throwing ofthe switch into another condition at any predetermined time, a fixed pointer cooperating with .said dial, and arotatable handle connected to said indicator and said element for setting the same, said handle having a limited angular move-r ment relative to said dial whereby said indicator andaelement may be adjusted relative to the dial and the dial may be adjusted by turning said handle. y

4. In a time switch, driving means, a switch, a dial rotated by said driving means and having means for controlling the throwing of said switch into one condition at any predetermined time, an indicator angular-ly adjustable relative to said dial and movable therewith when the dial is rotated by said driving means, said indicator having Aconnected thereto means for controlling vthe throwing of the switch into another condition at any predetermined time, a fixed pointer cooperating with said dial for indicating the setting thereof, a handle connected to said indicator for adjusting the same, and a pin and1 slot connection between saidhandle and 5. In a time switch, a. switch, driving means, a dial rotated by and angularly adjustable relative to said driving --means and having means for controlling the throwing of said switch into one condition, a disk rearwardly of said dial and having means for controlling the throwing of said switch into another condition, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to so as to rotate with said disk, said indicator and disk being angularly ustable relative to said dial and movable in unison therewith by said driving means, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited angular movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial, and said dial may be adjusted by turning said handle.

6. ln a time switch, a switch, driving means, a rotatable adjustable d-ial rotated by said driving means and having means on its periphery for controlling the throwing of said switch into one condition at. any predetermined time, a disk rearwardly of said dial adjustable relative thereto and having means on its periphery for controlling the throwing of said switch Iinto another condition at any predetermined time, an indicator in front of said dial connected to so as to rotate with said disk, said indicator and disk being angularly adjustable relative to said dial and being rotated therewith by said driving means, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angularly adjusted.

7. lin a time switch, a switch, driving means, an angularly adjustable dial rotated by said driving means and having a portion of increased radius, al disk rearwardly of said dial and having a portion of increased radius, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to said disk so as to rotate therewith, said disk and indicator being angularly adjustable relative to said dial, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited movement relative to said ldial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angularly adjusted, said switch having an element adapted to follow the contour of the peripheries of said disk and dial.

y8. lin a time switch, driving means, a switch, an angularly adjustable dial rotated by said driving means and having a portion of increased radius provided at its forward end with an inclined edge, a disk rearwardly of said dial and having a portion of increased radius with its rear edge inclined oppositely to the forward edge of the portion of increased radius of said dial, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to said disk so as to rotate therewith, said dial having numerals thereon chronologically arranged in a direction reverse to that in which said driving means rotates said dial, a fixed pointer cooperating with the numerals on saiddial, said disk nd indicator being angularly adjustable relative to said dial, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angularly adjusted, said switch having an element adapted to follow the contour of the peripheries of said disk and dial,

9. In a time switch, a switch, driving means, a dial rotatable by and angularly adjustable relative to said driving means and having means for controllingl the throwing of saidvswitch into one condition, a disk rearwardly of said dial and having means for controlling the throwing of said switch into another condition, means for frictionally engaging said disk against said dial whereby the same are rotated in unison by said driving means, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to so as to rotate with said disk, said indicator and disk being angularly adjustable relative to said dial and movable in unison therewith by said driving means, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited angular movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be adjusted by turning said handle.

10. lln a time switch, a switch, driving means, a dial having means on its periphery for controlling the throwing of said switch into one condition at any predetermined time, a clutch between said driving means and dial through which said driving means drives said dial and permitting of angular adjustment of said dial relative to said driving means, a disk rearwardly of said dial adjustable relative thereto and having means on its periphery for controlling the throwing of said switch into another condition at any predetermined time, means for frictionally engaging said disk against said dial, an indicator in front of said dial connected so as to rotate with said disk, said indicator and ydisk being angularly adjustable relative 'to said dial and being rotated therewith by said driving means, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angular-ly adjusted.

1l. lln a time switch, a switch, driving means having a driven shaft, a sleeve journalled on said shaft, a friction clutch between said sleeve and shaft, a dial connected to said sleeve and having a portion of increased radius, a disk rearwardly of said dial and having a port-ion of increased radius, means for frictionally holding said disk against the rear face of said dial, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to said disk so as to rotate therewith, said disk and indicator being angularly adjustable relative to said dial, and a. handle journalled on said sleeve connected to said indicator and llO having limited movementI relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angularly adjusted, said switch having anelement adapted to follow the contour of the peripheries of said disk and dial.

ll2. In a. time switch, ydriving means, a switch, a dial rotated byl said driving means and angularly adjustable relative thereto, said dial/having means for controlling the throwing ofsaid, switch into one condition atl any predetermined time, an indicator rotated in unison-'with said dial by said driving 1neans,lsaid indicator being angularly adjustable with respect to Said dial, means movable with said indicator for controlling the throwing of the switch into another condition at any'predetermined time, a fixed pointer cooperating handle for adjusting said indicator and dial, and means for limiting the extent of rotation of said dial and indicator.

13. In a time switch, a switch, driving means, ladial rotated by and angularly adjustable relative to said driving means and having means for controlling' the throwing radius, connected to said disk so as to rotate there` of said switch into one condition, a disk rearwardly of said dial and having means for controlling the throwing of said switch into another condition, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to so as to rotatewith said disk, said indicator and disk being ang'ularly adjustable relative to said dial and movable in unison therewith by said driving means, a handle connected to said indicator and having limited angular movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial, and said dial may be adjusted by turning said handle, and a stop on said dial for preventing rotation thereof when the same has reached zero position.

14. In a time switch, a switch, driving means, an angularly adjustable vdial rotated by said driving means and having a portion of increased radius, a disk rearwardly of said dial and having a portion of increased an indicator in fr`ont 'of said dial and with, said disk and indicator being angularly adjustable relative to said dial, a handle connected to said indicatorand having limited A with Said dial, a single -said indicator and disk I mechanism having a movement relative to said dial whereby said indicator and disk may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angularly adjusted, said switch having an element adapted to follow the contour of the peripheries of said disk and dial, a pointer cooperating with said dial for indicating the setting thereof, and a stop on the periphery of said dial adapted to engage said pointer' and therebyprevent further rotation of said dial and disk. l

1-5. In a time switch, a switch, driving means, an angularly adjustable dial rotated by said driving means and having a portion of increased radius, a disk rearwardly of said 'dial and having a portion of increased radius, an indicator in front of said dial and connected to said disk so as to rotate therewith, said disk and indicator being angularly adjustable relative to said dial, and a handle connected to said indicator and having limited movement relative to said dial whereby may be adjusted relative to said dial and said dial may be angularly adj usted, said switch havin an element adapted to follow the contour of the peripheries of said disk and dial, said dial having a shoulder against whichsaid switch element is adapted to engage to hold said dial against rotation in a given position.

16. In a time switch, a clock or equivalent driven shaft, a switch a dial having means fon opening said switch at any predetermined time, a friction clutch betweenisaid dial and said shaft, a .disk having frictional engagement with said dial whereby the disk is rotated with the dial when the latter is driven through said clutch, said disk having means for controlling the throwing on of said switch, an indicator connected to-said disk and angularly adjustable therewith relative toM said dial, a handle connected to said indicator, means for limiting the angular adj ust-ment between said dial and indicator, anda pointer cooperating with said dial, the frictional engagement between said disk and dial being less than that exerted bysaid clutch whereby said clutch will hold said dial stationary-while said indicator is angularly adjusted relativeto. the dial.

yGrEORCrE HEGEMAN HART. 

